Tuesday morning I had a toothache. I tried to ignore it as much as possible but every time I chewed it so kindly reminded me of it’s arrival and so I patiently waited for it’s departure. That did not happen, so on Wednesday I broke down and called the dentist.
With only being at my job 1 year and 2 months, I had just recently been eligible for dental insurance. Does the fact that I had to wait a year make sense to me? No. But the fact that it allowed me to prolong my much needed visit to the dentist didn’t bother me at all.
I.Hate. The. Dentist.
I have hated the dentist since my first visit as a child, and I recall clearly how mean my dentist was…..not kind at all and zero bedside manner which is all I really needed.
He actually pulled 4 teeth from mouth for this reason and I quote, “I’m going to pull 4 of your teeth, 2 from the top, 2 from the bottom, it will be much easier for you in the future when your wisdom teeth come, because I feel damn sorry for any dentist that would need to deal with you and pulling your wisdom teeth.”
Isn’t that precious? Ha.
I had braces. I had an expander.
By the time my braces came off at age 17, I was done. I had spent enough time at the dentist or orthodontist; they are both equally scary to me.
Needless to say. I had not been to the dentist for 12 years. No judgment.
Until yesterday.
My stomach was in knots all day. My appointment was at 1:50 and as much I thought I was healed when woke up yesterday morning to no toothache, I wasn’t. It started hurting again, right on time at 11am when I ate something. Ouch again.
I told the lady when I called, “lady, I’m scared.” Most people are, she responded.
I arrived at the office, I filled out all the stupid paperwork they make you fill out and they call me back. The dental assistant, Anita, tells me she’s just going to take a quick x-ray of the tooth to check for a cavity. She takes it, and I made it through. They have come up with some new technology compared to what I used to have to bite on as a child, and completely gag on those cardboard things they stick in the back of your throat, I swear that’s why I don’t like the texture of animal cookies, it’s that damn cardboard texture. No judgment.
She doesn’t see anything, she says, I’ll get the doctor.
In comes the doctor. He’s bald, he looks like a dentist. He has my trust initially. He asks me if I have sinus issues. Am I at the right doctor, I wondered. Did I come here with a toothache but leaving with a cold? I got where he was coming from but I wasn’t buying it.
He tells me he’s going to just take a look, and then take a picture with this instrument that looked like a toothbrush but was obviously a camera. As he’s “looking” around he says, oh you still have your wisdom teeth. Yes I do, and I plan to take them to the grave so don’t get any ideas.
He takes a picture. Yep, there’s the cavity, it’s small…we can quick fill that up. Great do I have to be here for that?
We have gas for you if you want,, it just makes you feel like you’ve had a couple glasses of wine. I love wine! And we’ll numb it up really good for you okay? Yeah, you had me at wine buddy, fill it up.
After the wine gas takes full effect, I’m good to go. He starts cleaning the cavity so he can start filling it, but stops and says, oh this might be too deep, this could end up needing a root canal.
My. Worst. Nightmare. Luckily I was drunk under the gas, when he said this.
The cavity didn’t go much deeper from that point on. He was able to fill it, but wants to check it in 4 months just to be sure it doesn’t need a root canal. It’s about a 50/50 chance.
I’m feeling much better today. And Dr. Winn called me at home last night just to make sure I was doing okay. He even left his home phone number in case I had any issues. Wow. That’s much better than my old dentist.
I told him I that it was my intention to be a normal person who goes to the dentist every 6 months.
I have a cleaning on the 4th. I’ll be able to give a better opinion after that.
Have a great weekend!!
1 Comment
December 15, 2006 at 6:34 pm
OMG. I have not been to the dentist in YEARS, and my teeth look like it. I had orthodontia from ages 5 (really!) through 17, but I wasn’t afraid to go to the dentist until I hadn’t been for about two years, and now I am scared to go because it has been like five more years (No judgment!), and yet, I still have not been. But I finally get dental insurance effective 1/1/07, so I am going to be brave and try to make an appt.
So that was a really long comment just to say – hey, you’re not alone.